Watsonville Film Festival announces dates, expansion

WATSONVILLE — The second annual Watsonville Film Festival will take place March 2 and 3 and will be bolstered by an expanded lineup across two locations.

“What’s really exciting about this year is we’re doing it again and it’s going to be bigger,” said Consuelo Alba, a member of the festival’s committee.

More than 30 films will be screened in two locations: the Henry J. Mello Center and the Cabrillo College Watsonville Center.

The festival will pay tribute to director and playwright Luis Valdez with a screening of “La Bamba” in celebration of the film’s premiere 25 years ago.

Valdez will be in attendance on March 2 during a post-screening reception.

The festival will feature a variety of filmmakers, from local to student and beyond.

While the complete list of films and directors has not yet been announced, Alba said Vince Navarro, a Watsonville High School alum, will screen his 2006 short film, “Gordo,” which was shot entirely in Watsonville.

Tickets are available now at www.santacruztickets.com. For information, visit www.watsonvillefilmfestival.org.